Dice based games and PC versions

[Sportsforever]

Re: Dice based games and PC versions

Problem with Strat is the PC game from a UI/Options standpoint nothing has really changed much in a decade. Game interface feels so 2001. So many limitations, the licensing is a pain in the ***, and I think the game engine itself is starting to show it's age.

I've been playing Strat games since the early 80's but the notion they are head and shoulders above the others, especially in the PC conversion of Dice/Card games I just can't get onboard with.

Yep - IMO, SOM's strength isn't technology. As you mentioned, the PC games are all dated; I think 2001 is generous...there is probably some 1990s feel there.

To me SOM's strength is the research they do into their season sets, the playability of their board game, and the number of older seasons they offer. I have roughly 45 SOM card sets including the HOF sets, the Heroes sets, and nearly all of the "retro" sets and they are a blast. Very cool to bust out 1911 and play with Ty Cobb or the Giants who ran like crazy, 1920 and that awesome Ruth card, 1934 and the Gashouse Gang, 1941 and Joe D/Teddy Ballgame, 1948/49 with the Cardinals/Dodgers and Jackie, etc. That is where SOM really shines...

[OReilly10]

Re: Dice based games and PC versions

Yep - IMO, SOM's strength isn't technology. As you mentioned, the PC games are all dated; I think 2001 is generous...there is probably some 1990s feel there.

To me SOM's strength is the research they do into their season sets, the playability of their board game, and the number of older seasons they offer. I have roughly 45 SOM card sets including the HOF sets, the Heroes sets, and nearly all of the "retro" sets and they are a blast. Very cool to bust out 1911 and play with Ty Cobb or the Giants who ran like crazy, 1920 and that awesome Ruth card, 1934 and the Gashouse Gang, 1941 and Joe D/Teddy Ballgame, 1948/49 with the Cardinals/Dodgers and Jackie, etc. That is where SOM really shines...

I agree with you and the previous post. SOM puts so little effort into improving their product(s). It is the weakness of the company, and will doom it out of existence at some point. The other sports' CPU versions are even more primitive than the Baseball one.

Im not talking graphics or animations or anything either. Wouldn't be hard to add sound effect slots though for presentation. The interface is shot though. Everything is not very user friendly. Same thing year to year. I want some more options on manual input/dice input but it never improves.

As far as a realistic representation of Stock-Replays, as well as the best/smoothest tabletop play, SOM is the best by far. As a company though they fall short. Whether its the marriage to the Windows 95 Computer games, or charging me $12 to ship a set of cards and them arriving damaged in a soft mailer that is half ripped open (happens often).

[57oceanlover]

Re: Dice based games and PC versions

Question about Action PC BB, Can you run a cpu vs cpu game? Are there any issues about the game? Thanks...

[57oceanlover]

Re: Dice based games and PC versions

Ok, Well Strat vs Action pc, For each player strat sems VERY Detailed how about Action pc? I dont care if game is out dated just that when I play two teams pc vs pc Lets say 95 Atlanta vs 2017 Astros, Maddux throws lots of Groundballs and Koufax K's alot of batters.. I want real!!

[OReilly10]

Re: Dice based games and PC versions

I would say Strat O Matic would produce more authentic results. The major difference is that SOM's engine is open for the most part. Action PC is closed and you do not know where the results come from. IMO Strat's game engine is sound, based completely on mathematical probability. If you play authentically and usage is adhered to, numbers should come out somewhat accurately

Strat's major blind spot would be if there was an extreme situation like if you had a batter with a very small amount of Ks or maddux walking 20 people in 220 innings in 1997. Since roughly half the time the results come off the batters' cards, you might have Maddux exposed to more walks than 20.

[isherdish]

Re: Dice based games and PC versions

Digital Diamond Baseball was just released on Steam this week. In my opinion, this game is severely underrated. It plays a great game of baseball. Also, for those that like to roll dice to get results, you can do that with this game or you can just play it normally. I am copying and pasting my review from Steam and I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

The Best Text Sim Baseball Game of its Kind!

1. INCREDIBLE VALUE! All the seasons are FREE and custom draft leagues are very easy to set up. Want to see Ty Cobb face off against Gerrit Cole? Or how would Mike Trout do against Sandy Koufax? This can be easily done. The whole setup is fast and intuitive. And there are no extra charges unlike other baseball games which nickel and dime you for any extra season or player.

2. Statistical realism! Included in the game is a transparent mathematical formula of how batter/pitcher matchups are resolved and it makes sense! Certain games don't reveal their formulas and the cross era stats can be way out of wack . Or there are board game conversions which do reveal their formulas, but often times a statistical matchup in a game will be resolved just by reading the batters card and the pitcher is not even factored in. What fun is that?

Every matchup in digital diamond baseball involves the hitter, pitcher and fielder. It seems obvious that this should be done, but many other baseball text sims don't do this. When looking over the stats at the end of a cross-era season, the stats are believable.

3. A worthy computer manager! So many other text sims get this wrong. Too many sacrifice bunts, or intentional walks that don't make sense or leaving a pitcher in to get shelled and then immediately pinch hitting for him the next inning. This doesn't happen in DIgital Diamond. The cpu manager is a worthy opponent and is customizable to play a more traditional type of baseball or a more analytical type of baseball.

4. Great customer service!! Mark, the creator of the game, is open to suggestions to the game and is very prompt with questions on email. I had a question on how to customize the play-by-play and he helped me by email and was just generally terrific. (another fantastic feature that other games don't have. Some games allow you to kind of customize some of calls. This game allows people to FULLY customize ALL aspects of the play by play).

I highly recommend this game. If you are interested in cross-era play, dream matchups and becoming the next Connie Mack, then this is the game for you!

[metallidevils]

Re: Dice based games and PC versions

I would say Strat O Matic would produce more authentic results. The major difference is that SOM's engine is open for the most part. Action PC is closed and you do not know where the results come from. IMO Strat's game engine is sound, based completely on mathematical probability. If you play authentically and usage is adhered to, numbers should come out somewhat accurately

Strat's major blind spot would be if there was an extreme situation like if you had a batter with a very small amount of Ks or maddux walking 20 people in 220 innings in 1997. Since roughly half the time the results come off the batters' cards, you might have Maddux exposed to more walks than 20.

I used to play MLB Showdown, where you first did a dice roll to determine if you’d use the batter or pitcher card, and the ‘better’ players had advantages for this roll. I always preferred this to strat o matic 50/50, even though MLB showdown is more of an arcady CCG as opposed to a sim.

One other thing I liked about MLB showdown is the strategy cards. Again, more of an arcade experience than a simulation, but at least it made you feel like you could have a real impact on the result of the game, as opposed to the simulations which are almost entirely dice roll. I havent seen any other baseball game attempt anything like this.

[OReilly10]

Re: Dice based games and PC versions

I have been dabbling in PC Replay Baseball (both cards & dice and CPU).

Its a very good package. I like how pleasing the CPU version is to the eye as well as a good interface. Good open game engine that seems pretty sound (so far). Im interested in seeing how realistic statistics and results come out.


From the first post from a few years ago. It seems like this person is a soul looking for a product like PC Replay Baseball, Strat O Matic, or APBA. Along those lines. OOTP, while it has a lot of things to like about it, is not a good engine for season replays.